Miami United FC

What Miami United FC does

Miami United FC is a privately-held, for-profit semi-professional soccer club founded in 2012 by Italian entrepreneur Roberto Saccà and headquartered at Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah, Florida. The club is the oldest active soccer organization in the city of Miami and operates a complete player development pyramid spanning a youth academy (Future Stars U6–U10, Premier U8–U14, Elite U12–U17), U18 and U23 developmental squads, a Reserve team in the Soccer Premier League Gold Division, and a First Team competing in the UPSL Florida South Division.

The club's product surface combines competitive teams (UPSL/SPL play plus the Summer Cup and U.S. Open Cup), a recurring-revenue youth academy with weekly Friday open tryouts, a College Pathway Program placing players at Barry University, FIU, FAU, University of Miami and others, and an international professional placement network via the Best Eleven Sports Group partnership covering clubs in Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. Brand and content distribution runs through Instagram, YouTube (live-streamed matches), Facebook, TikTok, X, an email newsletter, and an Amazon Prime Video documentary series ('Miami United – The Series', 2024). No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, or app-based distribution is disclosed.

Revenue is generated across three streams: kit and commercial sponsorships (Avianca as main kit sponsor, A-GAME Hydration as official supplier), academy enrollment and development program fees, and matchday/merchandise receipts at Ted Hendricks Stadium (10,000-seat capacity). Pricing for academy programs and merchandise is not publicly disclosed. The club reports 31+ titles won since 2023 and six U.S. Open Cup appearances, including a 2018 fourth-round run as the first NPSL club to reach that stage. Ownership rests with founder Roberto Saccà alongside partners Jorge Connolly Uría (President), Santiago Frean (Managing Director), and CEO Tony Iafrate; a 2026 leadership restructure layered in a Sporting Director and a General Manager / Head of Football Operations, and a sister entity (Miami FC) is majority-controlled by Sports Performance Hub, which is developing a $280M, 92-acre sports and education campus in Homestead, Florida.

Name

Miami United FC

Legal name

Miami United FC

Website

https://miamiunitedsoccer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Miami United FC is a private semi-professional soccer club founded in 2012 that operates a full player development pathway from youth academy (U6–U17) through U18, U23, Reserve, and First Team competing in UPSL and SPL leagues in South Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semi-Professional Soccer Club & Youth Academy

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB)

Keywords

• Semi-professional soccer
• Youth soccer academy
• Player development programs
• Competitive soccer leagues
• Soccer club operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship & Kit Partnerships: The club generates revenue through sponsorship deals including kit sponsors (Avianca as main kit sponsor per news) and hydration partnerships (A-GAME per news).
2. Academy & Development Programs: Revenue from youth academy enrollment, player development programs, and multi-divisional team participation fees.
3. Match Revenue & Merchandise: Revenue from ticket sales at Ted Hendricks Stadium (10,000 capacity), merchandise, and streaming broadcasts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Miami United FC operates a multi-tiered semi-professional soccer club providing competitive match play and structured youth-to-professional player development in South Florida. The core offering spans a youth Academy (Future Stars U6-U10, Premier U8-U14, Elite U12-U17), U18, U23, Reserve Team (SPL Gold), and First Team (UPSL Florida South), operating from Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah, FL.

Product overview

Miami United FC is a soccer club ecosystem offering a multi-tiered player development and competition structure. The organization operates a complete pyramid from youth Academy (Future Stars U6-U10, Premier U8-U14, Elite U12-U17) through U18, U23, Reserve Team (SPL Gold), and First Team (UPSL Florida South Division), culminating at Ted Hendricks Stadium. The Multi-Divisional Project platform connects these teams into a unified pathway with college placement and professional opportunity services. Additional offerings include the Amazon documentary series 'Miami United – The Series', participation in prestigious tournaments like the Summer Cup and U.S. Open Cup, and weekly open tryouts for talent identification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Miami United Academy: Youth development program with Future Stars (U6-U10), Premier (U8-U14), and Elite (U12-U17) levels, providing a pathway to the First Team.

Products and services

• First Team The senior competitive team representing the highest level of competition within the Miami United structure, competing in the UPSL (United Premier Soccer League) Florida South Division.
• Reserve Team The reserve squad competing in the Soccer Premier League (SPL) Gold Division, serving as a stepping stone for players to earn promotion to the First Team.
• U23 Team The Under-23 team competing in the SPL Silver Division, providing a key transition stage into adult football as part of the Multi-Divisional Project pathway.
• U18 Team The Under-18 team bridging the Academy and competitive football, part of the Multi-Divisional Project creating a complete player pathway.
• Miami United Academy Youth development academy with three tiers: Future Stars (U6-U10), Premier (U8-U14), and Elite (U12-U17), providing a professional environment focused on developing complete individuals and better players.
• Future Stars Program Foundation of the Miami United FC development pathway for young players aged 4-10 years, focusing on coordination, motor skills, ball mastery, technical fundamentals, confidence, decision-making, and social development.
• Premier Team Academy tier for players aged 8-14 years ready for structured and competitive environment, emphasizing advanced technical development, tactical awareness, positional concepts, and competitive discipline.
• Elite Team Highest level within the academy for players aged 12-17 years, built for advanced and high-performance level competition with emphasis on tactical depth, position-specific development, physical preparation, and professional mindset.
• Multi-Divisional Project Four-team structure (U18, U23, Reserve, First Team) creating a clear professional pathway for player development from youth to senior football, including college and professional placement opportunities.
• Friday Open Tryouts Weekly open tryouts held every Friday for players interested in joining Reserve and U23 teams, serving as the entry point for talent identification across all Multi-Divisional Project teams.
• College Pathway Program Player placement services helping academy players secure positions at colleges including Barry University, FIU, FNU, FAU, St. Thomas University, Miami Dade College, and University of Miami.
• Professional Opportunities Network International pathway service connecting players with professional environments in Central & South America, USL, Puerto Rico, and Europe through the Best Eleven Sports Group partnership network.
• Miami United – The Series First official TV series/documentary released on Amazon Prime Video, documenting the journey of building the club, the daily grind behind semi-professional environment, sacrifice, and the pursuit of competing at high levels.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Best Eleven Sports GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Strategic partnership with international football management and player development organization. Provides access to professional clubs in South America (Club Rubio Ñu in Paraguay, Club Atlético Colegiales in Argentina, Centro Atlético Lito in Uruguay) creating international pathways for Miami United players. Collaboration includes training methodology, player development systems, and professional player placement opportunities.
• AviancacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 March 2026Avianca, the Colombian airline, has partnered with Miami FC (sister entity) as the main kit sponsor and exclusive carrier. This partnership was announced during the Sports Performance Hub groundbreaking ceremony and provides visibility on team kits and travel arrangements.
• Sports Performance Hub (SPH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Sports Performance Hub is developing a 92-acre, $280 million sports and education campus in Homestead, Florida. SPH holds 60% majority stake in Miami FC. Project includes elite sports academies, 600-student boarding school, 10,000-seat stadium, and five-star hotel. Founders include Riccardo Silva, Juan Sebastián Verón, and Manu Ginobili.
• A-GAME HydrationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 March 2025A-GAME, a hydration beverage company founded by former MLB player Johnny Damon, partnered with Miami FC as the official sports hydration drink. Products are provided to players and made available to fans at home matches.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oakland Roots SC: Mission-driven semi-pro soccer club emphasizing community identity and content-led brand-building; comparable in scale, stage, and reliance on sponsorships and matchday revenue rather than league media rights.
• Miami FC: Sister entity in the same South Florida market; operates at a higher competitive level (USL Championship) and shares ownership/capital ties via Sports Performance Hub. Most directly comparable given shared ecosystem, geography, and overlapping academy ambitions.
• Detroit City FC: Community-owned semi-pro/NISA club with strong 'people's team' identity and grassroots culture — directly comparable to Miami United's 'El Equipo del Pueblo' positioning and similar fan-driven operating model.
• South Georgia Tormenta FC: Pre-professional/USL League One club that operates a vertical pathway including academy, USL W League, and first team — closely comparable structure to Miami United's Multi-Divisional Project approach.
• Chattanooga FC: Independent semi-pro club with a famous fan-owned structure and similar community-led GTM; operates a comparable pathway of competitive league participation and academy-style programming.

Broad incumbents

• Tampa Bay Rowdies: Established USL Championship club in the same Florida state market; comparable soccer ecosystem (youth academy, senior team, community events) but at a professional tier and with deeper institutional history.
• Inter Miami CF: MLS franchise based in the same Miami market; the dominant professional soccer brand locally. Comparable as a soccer club operating in Miami, but competes at the apex of the pyramid versus Miami United's semi-pro position.

Others

• Best Eleven Sports Group: Strategic partner rather than competitor; comparable as a relevant ecosystem player because it connects Miami United to professional clubs in South America (Club Rubio Ñu, Colegiales, Lito) and shapes the club's international player-placement pathway.

Emerging players

• Phoenix Rising FC: USL Championship club with a strong academy and youth development focus; comparable vertical (academy → first team) operating model but at a higher competitive tier than Miami United's current UPSL/SPL level.

Regional players

• Fort Lauderdale CF: MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of Inter Miami CF based in nearby Fort Lauderdale; competes for youth talent in the same South Florida catchment area and represents the most direct pathway rival for Miami United's academy graduates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/miamiunitedfc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzCgC1gUYmmgKCHwP1q9VBg
• Facebookfacebook.com/miamiunitedfc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/miamiunitedfc
• Instagraminstagram.com/miamiunitedfc
• TikToktiktok.com/@miami.united

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Miami United FC